Helpful – You’ll take-away practical advice that will help you get better at what you do.

We rate each piece of content on a scale of 1–10 with regard to these two core criteria. Our rating helps you sort the titles on your reading list from adequate (5) to brilliant (10). Books we rate below 5 won’t be summarized. Here's what the ratings mean:

5 –Solid. A helpful and/or enlightening book, inspite of its obvious shortcomings. For instance, it may be offer decent advice in some areas but be repetitive or unremarkable in others.
6 – Notable. A helpful and/or enlightening book that stands out by at least one aspect, e.g. is particularly well structured.
7 – Good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that combines two or more noteworthy strengths, e.g. contains uncommonly novel ideas and presents them in an engaging manner.
8 – Very good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that has a substantial number of outstanding qualities without excelling across the board, e.g. presents the latest findings in a topical field and is written by a renowned expert but lacks a bit in style.
9 – Superb. A helpful and/or enlightening book that is extremely well rounded, has many strengths and no shortcomings worth mentioning.
10 – Brilliant. A helpful and/or enlightening book that, in addition to meeting the highest standards in all pertinent aspects, stands out even among the best. Often an instant classic and must-read for everyone.
While the rating tells you how good a book is according to our two core criteria, it says nothing about its particular defining features. Therefore, we use a set of 20 qualities to characterize each book by its strengths:

Applicable – You’ll get advice that can be directly applied in the workplace or in everyday situations.Analytical – You’ll understand the inner workings of the subject matter.Background – You’ll get contextual knowledge as a frame for informed action or analysis.Bold – You’ll find arguments that may break with predominant views.Comprehensive – You’ll find every aspect of the subject matter covered.Concrete Examples – You’ll get practical advice illustrated with examples of real-world applications or anecdotes.Eloquent – You’ll enjoy a masterfully written or presented text.Engaging – You’ll read or watch this all the way through the end.Eye opening – You’ll be offered highly surprising insights.For beginners – You’ll find this to be a good primer if you’re a learner with little or no prior experience/knowledge.For experts – You’ll get the higher-level knowledge/instructions you need as an expert.Hot Topic – You’ll find yourself in the middle of a highly debated issue.Innovative – You can expect some truly fresh ideas and insights on brand-new products or trends.Insider’s take – You’ll have the privilege of learning from someone who knows her or his topic inside-out.Inspiring – You’ll want to put into practice what you’ve read immediately.Overview – You’ll get a broad treatment of the subject matter, mentioning all its major aspects.Scientific – You’ll get facts and figures grounded in scientific research.Visionary – You’ll get a glimpse of the future and what it might mean for you.Well structured – You’ll find this to be particularly well organized to support its reception or application.

*getAbstract is summarizing much more than books. We look at every kind of content that may matter to our audience: books, but also articles, reports, videos and podcasts. What we say here about books applies to all formats we cover.

Qualities

Controversial

Analytical

Bold

Review

With career stops at McKinsey and The New York Times, Anand Giridharadas’s resume places him securely among the global elite. But in this withering takedown of globalism, Giridharadas signals a sharp break with the conventional wisdom that embraces the wonders of the profit motive and the limited role of government. The plutocrats of Silicon Valley and the financiers of Wall Street claim that they value social justice and economic equality, but their blanket resistance to regulation or systematic reform tells a different story, Giridharadas argues. Indeed, the very elites paying homage to these ideals are driving the growing divides in American society. With elegant writing and plentiful reporting, Giridharadas makes a compelling and provocative case against the self-serving messages being peddled by the rich and powerful.

About the Author

Anand Giridharadas is the author of The True American and India Calling. A former New York Times correspondent, he teaches journalism at New York University.

Paradox Amid Prosperity

Giridharadas embarks on his argument by pointing out the rich-poor gap in America, a gap that continues to widen. This, he argues, is as obvious as it is paradoxical. Scientists make new breakthroughs in medicine and genetics, consistently, yet Americans’ overall health lags behind that of other rich nations. American innovators have used the Internet to create new ways to learn, yet student achievement remains moribund. Whole Foods and farmers’ markets make healthy fare widely available, yet many Americans live in food deserts or struggle with obesity.